Daimler-Benz DB 601 📖 Wikipedia

Based on the guidelines laid down by the German "Reichverkehrsministerium" (Reich Ministry of Transport),^[1] in 1930 Daimler-Benz began development of a new aero engine of the 30 L (1,800 cu in) displacement class: a liquid-cooled inverted-vee 12-cylinder piston engine.^[2] This was designated F4, and by 1931 two prototypes were running on the test bench.^[2] These were followed by the improved F4B, which became the prototype for the DB 600.^[2]

In 1933, Daimler-Benz finally received a contract to develop its new engine and to build six examples of the DB 600.^[2] For the year after, the DB 600 was the only German aero engine in the 30-litre class.^[2] In total, 2,281 DB 600s were built.^[2]

The DB 601A-1 was a development of the DB 600 with mechanical direct fuel injection. Like all DB 601s, it had a 33.9 litre displacement.^[2] The first DB 601A-1 prototype, designated as F4E, was test run in 1935, and an order for 150 engines was placed in February 1937.^[2]

Serial production began in November 1937, and ended in 1943, after 19,000 examples of all types were produced.^[2]

DB 601 A-1

Up to 1,100 PS (809 kW; 1,085 hp) at sea level with 2,400 rpm, up to 1,020 PS (750 kW; 1,006 hp) at 2,400 rpm and 4,500 m (14,800 ft) altitude, B4 fuel

DB 601 Aa

Up to 1,175 PS (864 kW; 1,159 hp) at sea level with 2,500 rpm, up to 1,100 PS (809 kW; 1,085 hp) at 2,400 rpm and 3,700 m (12,100 ft) altitude, B4 fuel

DB 601 B-1

Same as DB601 A-1 for use in Messerschmitt Bf 110 and/or bomber aircraft (different prop/engine ratio, 1:1.88 instead of 1:1.55)

DB 601 Ba

Similar to Aa for use in Messerschmitt Bf 110 and/or bomber aircraft (different prop/engine ratio, 1:1.88 instead of 1:1.55)

DB 601 M

For use in the Heinkel He 100D 1,175 PS (864.2 kW; 1,158.9 hp)

DB 601 N

Up to 1,175 PS (864 kW; 1,159 hp) at sea level and at 4,900 m (16,100 ft) altitude with 2,600 rpm, C3 fuel

Up to 1,270 PS (934 kW; 1,253 hp) at 2,100 m (6,900 ft) altitude with 2,600 rpm

DB 601 P

Same as DB 601 N for use in Messerschmitt Bf 110 and/or bomber aircraft (different prop/engine ratio, 1:1.88 instead of 1:1.55)

DB 601 E

Up to 1,350 PS (993 kW; 1,332 hp) at sea level with 2,700 rpm, up to 1,320 PS (970 kW; 1,300 hp) with 2.700 rpm at 4,800 m (15,700 ft) altitude, B4 fuel

Up to 1,450 PS (1,066 kW; 1,430 hp) at 2,100 m (6,900 ft) altitude with 2,700 rpm

DB 601 F/G

Same as DB 601 E for use in Messerschmitt Bf 110, Messerschmitt Me 210 and/or bomber aircraft (different prop/engine ratio,1:1.875 (601F), 1:2.06 (601G) instead of 1:1.685)

DB 606 A/B

Project initiated in February 1937, to "twin-up" two DB 601As or Es coupled to work on a single propeller shaft with all-up weight of some 1.5 tonnes;^[3] for use in Heinkel He 119 (one DB 606) and Messerschmitt Me 261 (twin DB 606) designs, where they worked well in their prototype airframes; saw first combat use with early Heinkel He 177As - 2,700 PS (1,986 kW) at sea level with a mirror-imaged starboard component engine supercharger. Derided as "welded-together engines" by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring in August 1942, from the problems they caused with engine fires in the He 177A during service from their inadequate installation design.^[3]

Alfa-Romeo R.A.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone

Licence built by Alfa Romeo in Italy

Aichi Atsuta

Licence built by Aichi in Japan

Kawasaki Ha40

Licence built by Kawasaki in Japan

DB 601

• Arado Ar 240
• CANSA FC.20
• Dornier Do 215
• Heinkel He 100
• Heinkel He 111 P
• Henschel Hs 130 A-0
• Kawasaki Ki-60
• Messerschmitt Bf 109
• Messerschmitt Bf 110
• Messerschmitt Me 210
• Savoia-Marchetti SM.88

DB 606

• Heinkel He 119
• Heinkel He 177A-1 and A-3
• Junkers Ju 288C
• Messerschmitt Me 261

Aichi Atsuta

• Aichi M6A
• Yokosuka D4Y

Alfa Romeo R.A.1000 R.C.41

• Macchi C.202
• Reggiane Re.2001

Kawasaki Ha40

• Kawasaki Ki-61

Data from ,^[4] Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Handbuch der deutschen Luftfahrt- und Zubehör-Industrie 1944^[5]

• Type: 12-cylinder liquid-cooled supercharged 60° inverted Vee aircraft piston engine
• Bore: 150 mm (5.91 in)
• Stroke: 160 mm (6.30 in)
• Displacement: 33.9 L (2,068.7 cu in)
• Length: 1,722 mm (67.8 in)
• Width: 739 mm (29.1 in)
• Height: 1,027 mm (40.4 in)
• Dry weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb) dry, unequipped

• Valvetrain: Two intake and two sodium-cooled exhaust valves per cylinder actuated via a single overhead camshaft per cylinder block.
• Supercharger: Gear-driven single-speed centrifugal type supercharger (later, hydraulic-driven) rated to 4,000 m (13,000 ft)^[6])
• Fuel system: Direct fuel injection
• Oil system: Dry sump with one pressure pump at 0.3–0.35 atm (4.4–5.1 psi; 0.30–0.35 bar) and two scavenge pumps
• Cooling system: Liquid-cooled

• Power output:
  

• 1,175 PS (1,159 hp; 864 kW) at 2,500 rpm for takeoff
• 1,100 PS (1,085 hp; 809 kW) at 2,400 rpm at 4,000 m (13,100 ft)
• 1,070 PS (1,055 hp; 787 kW) at 2,400 rpm at 3,700 m (12,100 ft)
• 1,000 PS (986 hp; 735 kW) at 2,400 rpm (max. continuous / cruise) at 4,000 m (13,100 ft)

• Specific power: 34.65 PS/L (0.56 hp/cu in; 25.49 kW/L)
• Compression ratio: 6.9:1
• Specific fuel consumption: 0.220 kg/PSh (0.492 lb/(hp⋅h); 0.299 kg/kWh) at max continuous
• Oil consumption: 0.005–0.008 kg/PSh (0.011–0.018 lb/(hp⋅h); 0.007–0.011 kg/kWh) at max continuous
• Power-to-weight ratio: 1.96 PS/kg (0.88 hp/lb; 1.44 kW/kg)
• Reduction gear Spur

• 601Aa 0.645:1
• 601Ba 0.532:1

Related development

• Daimler-Benz DB 600
• Daimler-Benz DB 603
• Daimler-Benz DB 605
• Aichi Atsuta
• Kawasaki Ha-40

Comparable engines

• Allison V-1710
• Continental I-1430
• Hispano-Suiza 12Y
• Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI
• Junkers Jumo 211
• Klimov M-103
• Klimov M-105
• Mikulin AM-35
• Rolls-Royce Merlin

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines
• List of aircraft engines of Germany during World War II

• Bingham, Victor (1998). Major Piston Aero Engines of World War II. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-012-2.
• Christopher, John (2013). The Race for Hitler's X-Planes: Britain's 1945 Mission to Capture Secret Luftwaffe Technology. Stroud, UK: History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6457-2.
• Gunston, Bill (2006). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines: From the Pioneers to the Present Day (5th ed.). Stroud, UK: Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-4479-X.
• Mankau, Heinz and Peter Petrick. Messerschmitt Bf 110, Me 210, Me 410. Raumfahrt, Germany: Aviatic Verlag, 2001. ISBN 3-925505-62-8.
• Neil Gregor Daimler-Benz in the Third Reich. Yale University Press, 1998

• Daimler-Benz Aircraft Engines
• Aviation History.com, DB 600 series page
• Kurfürst - Resource on Messerschmitt Bf 109 performance.
• (1940) Betriebs und Wartungsvorschrift zum Mercedes-Benz Flugmotor DB 601 A u. B - 1940 dated operation and maintenance manual for the Daimler-Benz DB 601A and DB 601B aircraft engines^{[permanent dead link]}
• DB 606 "power system" CAD-based animation of crankcase/conrod/piston components